Monday, January 27, 2025

LA Metro to Resume Fare Collection Monday

CITY NEWS SERVICE

After waiving fees for more than two weeks as a result of fire emergencies, LA Metro has announced it will resume collecting fares Monday across its bus and rail systems.

“We hope the free rides the past 2+ weeks helped you make essential trips during the fires,” Metro noted on social media.

L.A. County Board Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is chair of Metro’s Board of Directors, implemented no-fare collection as a result of multiple fires that broke out Jan. 7. Thousands of residents in the Palisades, Altadena and areas around the city of Los Angeles had to evacuate and were displaced from their homes.

On Thursday, the Board of Directors approved a proposal to expand its LIFE program, an initiative to offer free and reduced-fare service for qualifying individuals.

The agency is expected to modify the eligibility of the program for at least six months. County residents displaced by the fires who enroll will receive 20 free rides every month or a discounted pass on another participating transit agency.

Monday, January 27, 2025

Court to Set Hearing Date in Eaton Fire Burglary Case

A preliminary hearing date will be set Tuesday, January 28, 2025, for four suspects charged with burglarizing an Altadena home during evacuations for the recent Eaton Fire.

Roy Sims, 18, Ryan Sims, 19, Naquan Dewey Reddix, 22, and Pierre Obannon, 19, are scheduled to appear in Department D of the Pasadena Courthouse. Each faces one count of first-degree residential burglary.

The suspects allegedly entered the evacuated home around 5 p.m. on January 8 and stole several items, including an Emmy Award belonging to the resident. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case.

Prosecutors filed charges against the four defendants on January 10. The defendants pleaded not guilty at their arraignment the same day.

Roy and Ryan Sims remain in custody with bail set at $50,000 each. Reddix and Obannon posted bail and were released.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to six years in state prison.

The case is part of a larger crackdown on looting and other crimes committed during recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Monday Meeting Will Brief Residents With Updates About Local Disaster Recovery

Community gathering aims to provide resources and support for rebuilding efforts

[Editor’s Note: This article has been changed. This meeting will in fact be virtual at 4 p.m.]

A meeting on Monday will update all those hard-hit by the Eaton Fire on the latest information about recovery efforts.

The January 27 session, led by County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, will start at 4 p.m. and bring together county, state, and federal agencies to provide critical updates and resources for the community’s rebuilding efforts.

“Our goal is to ensure that every resident has access to the information and resources they need to rebuild and recover,” Barger has said. “This meeting is an opportunity for the community to come together, ask questions, and receive support.”

The event will include a question-and-answer session where attendees can address specific concerns and receive personalized assistance on topics including mental health services, housing assistance, and financial aid.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Congresswoman Chu Recounts Speaking With Trump About Support for Eaton Fire Recovery

Chu said the president emphasized time and time again that he would support Californians ‘100 percent’ in our recovery efforts and did not mention conditions

Congresswoman Judy Chu has recounted speaking to President Trump during the January 23 Fire Recovery Briefing in Pacific Palisades, where he pledged support for California’s wildfire recovery efforts.

Trump’s visit came three days after his inauguration.

“In [Friday’s] presidential briefing, I focused on the positive: President Trump emphasized time and time again that he would support Californians ‘100 percent’ in our recovery efforts,” Chu said in her statement. “He did not mention conditions he’d place on California or Los Angeles County for our residents and communities to receive federal natural disaster assistance and that we would receive ‘whatever we needed’ to heal, recover, and rebuild.”

The presidential visit included both aerial and ground tours of Pacific Palisades, where Trump met with affected homeowners and Los Angeles Fire Department officials.

A roundtable discussion followed at a local fire station,

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Altadena Chamber Plans Wildfire Recovery Zoom Webinar

Support is available for businesses and workers affected by recent disasters

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association and Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity are organizing a virtual Zoom webinar to provide critical recovery resources for local businesses and workers hard-hit by recent windstorms and wildfires.

The hour-long session, scheduled for Thursday, January 30 aims to connect affected community members with essential support programs and technical assistance through partnerships with local and state organizations.

The virtual event will showcase the Department of Economic Opportunity’s new Business to Business Space Share program and Los Angeles Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds.

Participants will learn about the “Bringing Altadena Back” program, a partnership with Chamber Nation offering innovative technology and support to streamline business operations and enhance economic recovery in Altadena.

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a Small Business Disaster Recovery Fund, supported by major companies like Bank of America and Amazon,

Sunday, January 26, 2025

The Threat of Flooding Hangs Over the Eaton Fire Area

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Forecasters have issued a flood watch Sunday for the devastated Eaton Fire area in Altadena as firefighters got the massive burn area 95% contained by fire lines and continued to root out hot spots.

With rain expected through Monday, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch from Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon for the Eaton burn scar.

“Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall are possible in and near the burn scars,” the NWS said. ”  …Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.”

Pasadena Water and Power lifted the do-not-drink water notice for the remaining areas in its service territory Friday, while the Foothill Municipal Water District said it will be able to fully pressurize the water system this weekend. Testing will then take up to two weeks before that do-not-drink order can be lifted.

The fire has burned 14,021 acres in Altadena and Pasadena since Jan.

Saturday, January 25, 2025

LA County Deploys Protective Measures to Safeguard Communities Ahead of Weekend Storm

As the LA County region prepares for a weekend of rain, Los Angeles County Public Works is collaborating with state and local partners to protect people, property and the natural environment from potential mud and debris flows following a spate of deadly wildfires. Flood control dams, river channels, and stormwater capture facilities are fully operational, and maintenance crews are prepared to mobilize 24/7 patrols in advance of the incoming storm.

The mud and debris forecast, released by LA County Public Works engineers, calls for Phase 1 conditions for the Eaton burn area. Small isolated debris and mudflows are expected.

In addition to clearing debris from streets, prepping debris basins in the foothills, and protecting the storm drain system from ash and debris, LA County Public Works is coordinating with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to deploy a wide range of protective measures. LA County Public Works engineers continue to assess burn areas for where these measures should be strategically placed to safeguard homes and infrastructure.

Saturday, January 25, 2025

USGS Models Show Critical Debris Flow Risk in Altadena and Parts of Pasadena Over Coming Days

Hydrologist warns of heightened landslide potential as weekend storms approach

United States Geological Survey models indicate that as little as 0.2 inches of rain within 15 minutes could trigger dangerous debris flows in local Eaton Fire burn areas, representing one of the lowest thresholds observed in the region’s recent fire-affected zones. 

“A large fraction of the Eaton burn area has burned at least moderate burn severity, leaving bare soil vulnerable to erosion,” said United States Geological Survey Research Hydrologist Jason Kean. He added, “The combination of increased potential for runoff and easily eroded sediment substantially increases the

susceptibility of the burn area to floods and debris flows relative to what it was before the fire.” 

Kean explained that the burn area faces both immediate and long-term risks. 

“For recent burn areas … it is the rainfall intensity that matters, not the total precipitation,” he said. “Intense bursts of rainfall can come in localized thunderstorms, or it can be embedded in long-duration rainstorms.” 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

At Altadena Town Hall, Residents Hear Details of 18-Month Cleanup Process

Local and federal officials outlined recovery plans for up to 10,000 destroyed structures and announced over $40 million in distributed aid at a packed Altadena town hall meeting Friday, two weeks after devastating fires killed at least 17 residents in the unincorporated community.

Sheriff Robert Luna reported 15 people remain missing in the Eaton fire area, highlighting early rescue efforts that saved 30 disabled adults and 250 residents from facilities that later burned. Officials announced heightened security measures, including mounted patrols and drone surveillance, after documenting 31 burglaries and making arrests for various crimes in the fire zone.

Col. Eric Swenson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detailed an 18-month cleanup process, beginning with EPA removal of hazardous materials followed by comprehensive debris removal from private properties. Property owners must sign right-of-entry forms to participate in the federal cleanup program, he said.

FEMA officials reported distributing over $40 million in aid, with maximum individual assistance of $43,600 for structure damage and another $43,600 for contents,

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Additional Disaster Recovery Center Opening Monday in Altadena

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A Disaster Recovery Center will open Monday in the Altadena area, the third such center to open in the wake of the Southland’s destructive and deadly wildfires.

The center will be located at 540 W. Woodbury Road. It will join the existing centers operating at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center, 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., and at the UCLA Research Park West, 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles,

The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

County officials said the Pasadena and Altadena centers will both be open next week, however, beginning Feb. 1, the Pasadena center will close, with all of those services shifted to the new Altadena location.

The centers are designed to be one-stop-shop locations for people impacted by the fires to access a range of services and resources.

A host of county departments are represented at the centers, along with state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles,